The Jazzcat

Legendary Guitarist Phil Upchurch

Exhibits Photographic Works

To Benefit The Jimmy Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund

“An Evening of Music and Images” features

Phil Upchurch Quartet and Sonya Maddox

Los Angeles, CA – WONDERVISION Music and Entertainment in

association with Dream NetworkRealtors@Prudential California John

Aaroe, have teamed up to produce an evening of acoustic and visual

enjoyment to benefit The Jimmy Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Legendary guitarist Phil Upchurch, longtime friend and fellow musician

with Smith, will be exhibiting some favorite choices of his personal

photographic works taken in Europe, Asia, and America. The evening will

also feature Upchurch and his quartet and the sultry and sassy vocals

of actress/singer/songwriter Sonya Maddox. They will perform latest

hits from their upcoming album on Thursday, June 30, 2005 from 7 p.m.

to 10 p.m. at 13215 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. The event is FREE and

open to the public. Photographs by Upchurch will be available for sale.

Partial proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Fund. For more

information on “An Evening of Music and Images” call 818-601-3157.

Says Upchurch, “The Jimmy Smith Memorial Scholarship Foundation was

founded as a way to honor my friend, one of the world’s greatest jazz

pioneers.” Both Upchurch and Maddox (who have teamed on numerous

projects around Los Angeles) are excited and honored to pay homage to

one of the world’s most influential jazz organists of all time. The

scholarships provide financial assistance to talented high school-aged

musicians who may not otherwise have the resources to further their

musical studies.

Jazz enthusiasts love Phil Upchurch for his music. At this

exhibition, they can enjoy his creative talents as a photographer as

well. A prolific guitarist, with over 1,000 recordings, Phil Upchurch

is comfortable playing blues, soul, R&B and jazz. He has been a

prominent figure in music circles for more than 50 years. In addition

to his work with Jimmy Smith, this self-taught musician has performed

and recorded with some of the music industry’s biggest names. His

talents have teamed him with musical legends such as Quincy Jones,

Michael Jackson, Ramsey Lewis, George Benson, Carmen McRae, Marlena

Shaw, Jack McDuff, Joe Williams, Stan Getz, Cannonball Adderly, Herbie

Hancock, Grover Washington, Jr., Chaka Kahn, Donny Hathaway, Wynton

Kelly and Eddie Harris, to name a few. He has performed extensively

throughout the United States and internationally. His credits also

include 23 albums, movie soundtracks and television commercials too

numerous to count. Today, Mr. Upchurch still enjoys a very active

performing career.

Sonya Maddox, CEO of WONDERVISION Music and Entertainment, has

the grace and charm of a Southern belle coupled with the confidence and

allure of a Hollywood diva. This Atlanta-born, television, screen, and

stage actor/songstress has become one of the most sought after,

respected performers in the commercial arena. With over 100 commercials

to her credit, corporate America loves the essence she brings to their

projects. Her most recent commercials include Listerine, Home Depot,

and South Beach Diet. In addition to her acting, Sonya’s musical career

is on the fast track, performing both on screen and to live audiences.

Her first starring screen role was in the award-winning Hanelle

Culpepper Film “A Single Rose, which made it to the 12th cut for the

2005 Oscar Awards. Maddox received national acclaim for her portrayal

of the character Rose. In addition, Sonya performed three songs for the

film. Maddox also wrote and starred in Wonder, an autobiographical

one-woman show. She wrote and sang all the lyrics for the production’s

score. Sonya continues to perform her music with a renewed sense of

purpose. Joining forces with music legends Phil Upchurch and Howard

McCray, Sonya is working on her Music CD, to be produced independently

with WONDERVISION Music and Entertainment, her own music publishing

company.

About Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Smith, who began his career in the early 1950’s, is known for

his clean, volcanic executions, in the tradition of Charlie Parker.

Smith single-handedly, in 1956, brought to prominence the Hammond B-3

organ, as a solo voice in the jazz world. He revolutionized the jazz

organ, turning what was for the most part, an overlooked instrument

into one of the most inclusive, dynamic jazz instruments of all time.

Being credited with creating the distinctive sound of “soul jazz,”

Smith was also the recipient of the prestigious Jazz Masters Lifetime

Achievement Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, the

nation’s highest honor in jazz. Smith died at age 79 at his home in

Scottsdale, Arizona in February of this year. He has over 100 albums to

his credit.

Charitable donations are welcome and can be made out to The Jimmy

Smith Memorial Scholarship Foundation, and mailed to P.O. Box 38821,

Los Angeles, CA 90038. For more information please contact a Foundation

representative at 818-601-3157.

# # #

.